350 0. A. Wolle on a supposed Hercynite. 
damask to be noticed when treated with dilute acid. The al- 
most total absence of the deteriorating elements, phosphorus, 
sulphur and silicon, has probably much to do with the quality 
of this steel ; for the manner in which it may be twisted when 
cold, and heated to whiteness without ‘“ burning,” forged and 
welded, presents an anomaly in the behavior of steel. 
Art. XXXIL.—Contributions from the Laboratory of the Lehigh 
University. No. IL—KHzxamination of a supposed Hercynite ; 
by CLARENCE A. WOLLE. 
THE mineral Hercynite is known only by an analysis of Quad- 
rat (Ann. Ch. Pharm., lv, 357.) A mineral very much resem- 
bling it was discovered by Prof. W. T. Roepper, who kindly 
gave me the specimen for the following investigation, which was 
made in the Laboratory of the Lehigh University under the di- 
rection of Dr. Chas. M. Wetherill. The locality is near Peeks- 
ill, N. Y., and Prof. Roepper, who visited the spot, describes 
the mineral as occurring in large isolated masses in syenitic 
gneiss. 
The supposed hercynite is intimately mixed with magnetite, 
from which it may be freed by digesting the fine powder with 
hydrochloric acid. It remains unaltered by this reaction and 
appears, under the microscope, as a transparent greenish crys- 
talline mineral which, when fused with carbonate of soda, is not 
decomposed. The crystals were boiled with a solution of car- 
bonate of soda to remove silica. : 
The mineral thus treated when examined under the micro- 
which on cooling assumes on olive-green color. 
crocosmic salt, dissolves completely, 
glass, which, when cold, is colorless. 
and forms a greenish-yellow | 
be : 
alia ees 
